Polcenigo : One of The Most Beautiful Villages In Northern Italy
In a hidden place on the slope before the Pre-Alps, just a few kilometers from Pordenone, lies a small village that shines in its own light. Located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, this hidden gem is considered Friuli’s green jewel box, due to its enchanting surroundings of abundant nature and numerous streams and brooks making Polcenigo a perfect place to for those who love the outdoors.
About Polcenigo
Polcenigo is a beautiful village that will warmly invite you to a timeless past. With its narrow stone streets, small wooden bridges, and houses with soft colors and windows with flowers. Called ‘al born’ in Friulian, Polcenigo is know for its basket weavers and farmers.
Located on the slopes of the Western Carnic Prealps, in a quiet region surrounded by a charming landscape, and it is renowned for its water springs area characterized by numerous small streams, torrents, lake-like springs all flowing into river Livenza, whose waters springs in the place called Santissima.
Things To Do In Polcenigo
In this beautiful village you can find some of the greenest forest you can find being fed by the natural springs. This place is for either the archaeology enthusiasts and nature explorers. Here are some of my recommendations of things to see while visiting Polcenigo.
Stroll through Polcenigo
Walking through the town will make you feel like you are back in a medieval town. Walk along Polcenigo’s oldest street, Via Coltura, and admire the Venetian Palaces that are still around. Palazzo Zaro and Palazzo Pezzuti were once owned by the Counts of Polcenigo. On the other side of the town you will find a palace declared to have historical and cultural value by the Italian State, Palazzo Scolari. This palace gives you access to a garden through a small bridge that leads you to a beautiful view
I am sure by this point you see it. Make your way up to Polcenigo’s Castle. On your way there you can not miss the Church of San Giacomo and its Franciscan Monastery, one of first built in the region. Its a place where devoutness meets craftsmanship with its medieval architecture that dates as far back to the 14th Century.
Once you reach the top of hill, you will get the view of how it once dominated Polcenigo. Built in the Middle Ages as defense fortress, it was destroyed by a fire and rebuild with a Venetian Style.
Enjoy the Springs & Parks
For the nature enthusiasts, Polcenigo does not disappoint. Its history has a strong connection with with water. It is one of my favorite places to go and relax by breathing in fresh air with a night hike around the sound of flowing water. The Livenza River crosses the village with its intense incomparable blue water that will remain in your memory for a long time.
There are two Springs that are worth taking a gander and one is very mysterious.
Sorgente del Gargazzo originates from one of the deepest caves in Europe. It has been explored numerous times and there have been serious consequences by taking many lives. It has only been explored to the depth of 222 meters. To this day it continues to attract visitors and divers. If you pay close attention you will see a statue of Christ sitting 9-meters deep.
Sorgenti della Santissima, is the source of the Livenza River. In this area you will find the Church of the Holy Trinity. Legend has it that near the spring the Holy Trinity appeared to Emperor Teodosio in 473 AD. To remember the event devotees erected a small shrine that soon became a place to go to on pilgrimage to prey for God’s favours and perform fertility rites.
This area also contains parks worth exploring and are all reachable through trails on foot or bikes. San Floriano Rural Park is the only rural park in Italy and is the perfect place to have a picnic. The Palù del Livenza, a wide marshy area at the foot of the mountains, is a place of great archeological and naturalistic interest and was recognized as a UNESCO site on June 27th 2011. It is one of the 111 European pile-dwelling sites in the Alps and the 19th in Italy.
